S is for Squirrel! (What were you expecting? I am the Squirrel Queen after all.)

The Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America.

"Excuse me, but have we discussed a fee for all these photos? We squirrels have to make a living too you know."

Sorry about that interruption, now where were we?Fox Squirrels are very playful, often chasing each other up and down trees and across yards and clearings.

"Could we add lots of acorns to the contract? I really like acorns."

Squirrels have a large vocabulary of clucking and chucking sounds. They warn each other and everyone with in hearing range of approaching threats. In the spring and fall, groups of fox squirrels can be very noisy.

"Have you seen my peanut? I know I buried it here but I can't seem to find it. If you're not too busy maybe you could help me search."

Round and round the tree they go,where they will stop we never know.

First to the left, then to the right,watching squirrels is quite a sight.

They are impressive jumpers, easily spanning fifteen feet in horizontal leaps and free-falling twenty feet or more to a soft landing on a limb or trunk.

"Okay, that's it! No more work until we complete negotiations on this contract. Either we get all the nuts or you get no more interviews and photos. Is it a deal or not?"

Well it looks like my assignment for this week's class is concluded. Please visit our teacher Mrs. Matlock and all the other students at Alphabe-Thursday.

Friday, May 21, 2010

This old bridge is located on the Clearwater river near Lewiston, Idaho. I liked all the different lines in the structure. I didn't notice the pigeon flying near the top of the bridge until after I had uploaded the photo to the computer.

It's a whole different world when viewed in monochrome. For more photos visit Ailene at Monochrome Weekend.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

R is for Roadside! On our Recent Road trip through Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho we Relaxed from the driving with lots of Roadside stops. This Roadside area had a Railroad bridge which crossed a River.

While Rambling along the River under the Railroad bridge at this Roadside stop we found old signs with Rules.

Some Roadside pullouts gave us views of Rolling hills with Roads Running here and there.

At this Roadside stop we made a Remarkable discovery . . . . . . .

Rock! No, no not Rock n Roll type Rock. Not Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Not the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Not even Rocky Road ice cream.

It looks like I have Reached the end of my assignment for this week. Aren't you Relieved? Really? Now if I could just do something about the Rambunctious winds that knocked out our power earlier this evening.

Monday, May 17, 2010

A little wildflower I found beside a stream in Western Oregon just before we crossed into Idaho.

Several of my blogging friends have been posting mystery flowers on their blogs so I thought I would show you one too. Do you know the identity of this little pink flower? Take your best guess! I will post the answer tomorrow night.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

From Peter PanMrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day.

If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

James Barrie

This is an automated post. We are still out of town but should be home soon.Have a very wonderful Mother's Day.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

I have been doing genealogy for several years researching both of our families. Tracking down one's ancestors is an endless task, the more answers you find, the more questions you have. The process has been simplified by the Internet, but it is still time consuming. The gathering of information and separating facts from false leads is an incredible adventure. Having actual documentation makes it so much easier to put the puzzle pieces in place.

Lucinda's husband, William, had kept a few documents and photos in a small metal box. The box was passed down to my husband's mother, Elizabeth. When she died the box came to us.

The story you have been reading is based on the contents of that little box and a few stories from my husband's father, Jack.

Lucinda died in 1934, William died fifty years later in 1984. There were other women in Bill's life after Lucinda died but I, being somewhat of a romantic, strongly believe she was his one true love.

Lucinda's story has been in my head for quite some time, this Mother's Day weekend seemed like the right time for it to be told.

I have two last photos to share with you. These are casual snapshots of Lucinda and Bill from about 1928. Thank you faithful readers for taking the time to share this glimpse into one family's history.

This is a automated post, I am somewhere in the wilds of Idaho and Montana until next week. I hope you have enjoyed Lucinda's story. This is a repost of a story I wrote last year for Mother's Day. I will be around to catch up with everyone when we get home.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Fairy tales do not always come true. A lovely, romantic story does not always have a happy ending. Life is not necessarily fair and things happen that sometimes we wish would not.

During the first half of the 20th century there was no effective treatment for tuberculosis. Very often the symptoms such as loss of weight, loss of energy, poor appetite, fever, a nagging cough, and night sweats would be incorrectly diagnosed as another disease. Usually by the time the disease was correctly diagnosed it was in the advanced stages.

Lucinda died in March of 1934, at the age of 26, after contracting tuberculosis the previous year. She was survived by her husband William and her 4 year old son Jackie. She was laid to rest at Saint Teresa's cemetery in Westphalia, Kansas.

A Letter to Lucinda,

Lucinda you were taken from this earth at far too young an age, taken from the ones who loved you. You would never grow old with your loving husband, never see your child grow into a man.

Jackie grew into Jack, a strong man, a good man. He married Elizabeth and they raised a family.

Lucinda, you are gone but now William has joined you. Your son Jack, and Elizabeth, are with you as well.

Jack's two sons are still here to carry the family name. Your grandsons Lucinda, and oh, you would be so proud of the men they have become, all they have done, and all they continue to do. When someone looks at them they are seeing a little part of you.

How do I know all these things Lucinda? Well, it is because your youngest grandson is the man I married.

This is a automated post, I am somewhere in the wilds of Idaho and Montana until next week. I hope you enjoy Lucinda's story. This is a repost of a story I wrote last year for Mother's Day. I will be around to catch up with everyone when we get home.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

It was a cold February morning as Lucinda and Aunt Ann left the house, they had finished all the household chores and were going shopping in Westphalia. She and her aunt had made a list last evening of what was needed, just a few items including fabric for a dress.

The year was 1928 and Lucinda had been living with her aunt since her mother, Mary, had passed away. Lucinda was only eight when Mary died and the family had decided the young girl needed a woman's influence. She still saw her father and brother almost every day, very often they would come to dinner at Ann's house and they always came on Sunday to escort the ladies to and from church.

Lucinda's grandmother had moved into the house when Grandpa Pierre died in 1913, but in 1920 Grandma Marie had also died. Now it was just Ann and Lucinda living here. But in the small town of Westphalia the house was never lonely or quiet. There were many family members and friends in this little town. Someone was always coming to call.

Lately one of the most frequent callers was William. He had been "courting" Lucinda for several months and three weeks ago he had asked her to be his wife. Being a respectful young man, he had talked to her father George and asked for his blessing. As William was the son of George's good friend and neighbor Gus, there had been no hesitation. Well almost. As a good father should he questioned the boy on his plans for supporting a wife and family. William explained to his prospective father-in-law about his job at the local farm equipment shop and how he was learning to build and repair the machinery. His future was secure and he felt he could support a family. George happily gave his blessing to the marriage.

All of this brings us back to Lucinda and Ann's shopping trip. They were going to get the material for Lucinda's wedding dress. William and Lucinda would be married in the spring and there was so much to be done before the wedding.

In late May of that year the entire town gathered at Saint Teresa's church for Lucinda and William's wedding. It was a beautiful day, surrounded by family and friends, and the start of a wonderful life for the young couple.George had given them the small house which had belonged to Pierre and Marie, the perfect home. Each day Lucinda would take care of the house and her garden and William would work at the farm shop.

One day when William came home from work Lucinda asked him to sit down, there was something she wanted to tell him. She handed him a glass of iced tea and said, "Bill, you are going to be a father." At first he just sat there, staring at the glass of tea, then he jumped up, grabbed Lucinda and proceed to dance around the room with her.

Baby John, who everyone would call Jackie, was born in September of 1929. They were now a family and life was good in Westphalia, Kansas.A few years went by and the young couple were very happy. Lucinda was planning a party to celebrate Jackie's fourth birthday. Ann had been out of town visiting relatives but when she returned she went over to see if she could help with the party.

As soon as she saw Lucinda she knew something was wrong. Lucinda had lost weight and looked pale. Ann immediately insisted that Lucinda go with her to see the town doctor. Lucinda protested that she was just tired from all the party preparations. After awhile she confessed to Ann that she had lost her appetite and wasn't sleeping. She was also being bothered by a cough that would not go away. Ann finally convinced her to see the doctor.

William was working on a piece of equipment at the shop, it had been a very busy day and he was tired but he needed to finish this job. He was deep in concentration but decided to take a short break. When he looked up Ann was standing in front of him.

"William", she said, "Lucinda is very sick, the doctor says it is consumption*, he wants to send her to the sanatorium tomorrow."

To be continued . . .

*In the past tuberculosis was called consumption.

This is a automated post, I am somewhere in the wilds of Idaho and Montana until next week. I hope you enjoy Lucinda's story. This is a repost of a story I wrote last year for Mother's Day. I will be around to catch up with everyone when we get home.

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About Me

Grew up in a small Georgia town with a desire to see some of the places I had read about and many I had not. I moved to Alaska and lived there for about ten years. My jobs took me to many parts of the state including Barrow, Nome, Kodiak Island and many more. I have also lived in California, Oregon and now Washington state.
Let this be the story of the journey so far.